Monthly Archives: August 2007
- August 29, 2007
- What is a sea cucumber?
Sea cucumbers are echinoderms found in all the world’s oceans.
A sea cucumber has a fleshy, tube-like body. Its body is lined with lots of tiny feet. The feet have suckers on the ends.
The sea cucumber’s mouth has many tentacles around it. It uses these to eat plankton, and plant and animal scraps. As it crawls [...]
- August 29, 2007
- What is an oyster?
Oysters are mollusks found in the warm coastal waters of all oceans.
An oyster is a type of shellfish. It lives in a rough, hinged shell. As soon as an oyster is threatened, it tightly closes its shell to protect itself from enemies. It also closes its shell when it is out of the water for [...]
- August 29, 2007
- What is an orca?
Orcas are mammals found in all the world’s oceans.
Orcas are also known as killer whales. They live in groups called pods. The pods travel and hunt together. Orcas have developed many different ways of hunting. They throw themselves onto beaches to chase sea lions in shallow water. They also tip over ice floes to knock [...]
- August 29, 2007
- What is a lanternfish?
Lanternfish are fish found in all oceans. Lanternfish spend the day in the dark mid-ocean depths. When lanternfish swim, their bodies light up. They use this light to attract prey.
Lanternfish eat plankton such as krill. Each night, they swim to the surface for food. They swim by moving their tails from side to side. Lanternfish [...]
- August 27, 2007
- What is a horseshoe crab?
Horseshoe crabs are crustaceans found off the coasts of North America and Asia.
The horseshoe crab has a hard outer shell to protect it from its enemies. Its shell is in the shape of a horseshoe. These animals are relatives of spiders and scorpions. They have six pairs of legs.
Horseshoe crabs eat worms and young shellfish. [...]
- August 27, 2007
- What is a great white shark?
Great white sharks are fish found in most of the world’s oceans.
The great white shark is a fierce predator. It can swim long distances quickly. It can also leap out of the water. Its large mouth is full of sharp jagged teeth.
The main prey animals of great white sharks are seals, tuna, and dolphins. They [...]
- August 27, 2007
- What is an electric ray?
Electric rays are fish found in the warm waters of the Atlantic Ocean.
The electric ray hunts at night and lies buried in the sand during the day. It stuns or kills its prey with electricity. Electric rays can produce a shock that will stun a person. The electricity comes from organs found between the fin [...]
- August 25, 2007
- What is a Californian sea lion?
Californian sea lions are mammals found in the Pacific Ocean.
Californian sea lions live in coastal waters. They do not swim more than 16 kilometers (10 miles) out to sea. But they dive down to 75 meters (245 feet) to catch fish and squid. Their strong flippers and smooth bodies help them swim and dive well.
Male [...]
- August 25, 2007
- What is a bottlenose dolphin?
Bottlenose dolphins are mammals found everywhere except in polar regions.
Bottlenose dolphins have short, stubby beaks. They have dark backs and much lighter undersides. The underside and lower sides are sometimes spotted.
Bottlenose dolphins can grow to be 3.6 meters (12 feet) long. They swim by moving their tail, or fluke, up and down. They eat mostly [...]
- August 25, 2007
- What is a blue-ringed octopus?
Blue-ringed octopuses are invertebrates found in the Indian and Pacific Oceans.
Blue-ringed octopus has blue rings all over its soft body. While resting, the octopus is pale in color. But when it is under threat, the blue rings get brighter.
The blue-ringed octopus hunts during the day. It hides, then catches the prey with its many arms. [...]
- August 23, 2007
- What is a wood turtle?
Wood turtles are reptiles found in North America.
Wood turtles can grow to 23 centimeters (9 inches) long. They live near water. But they spend most of their time on land.
The turtle’s hard shell protects its soft body from harm. When in danger, a turtle pulls its head inside the shell.
Turtles eat fruit, worms, and insects.Wood [...]
- August 23, 2007
- What is a stinkbug?
Stinkbugs are insects found in most parts of the world.
The stinkbug is named for the stinky liquid it squirts at its enemies. This spray can burn and even blind a creature for short time.
The stinkbug eats liquids from plants and animals. Part of its mouth is like a needle. It sticks this part into a [...]
- August 23, 2007
- What is 5-10-5 fertilizer?
Most farmers buy complete fertilizers, which, despite the name, usually contain only three main nutrients: nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. There are usually three numbers found on a fertilizer bag. The first number represents the mass percent N; the second, the percent P2O5; and the third, the percent K2O. So, “5-10-5” means that a fertilizer contains [...]
- August 23, 2007
- What is a raccoon?
Raccoons are mammals found in North America and Central America.
Most raccoons weigh between 4.5 and 9 kilograms (10 and 20 pounds). Raccoons have long fingers. They use their fingers to find and grab food from streams. Raccoons like to eat crabs, frogs, and fish. They also eat nuts, mice, and grasshoppers.Raccoons use their long fingers [...]
- August 23, 2007
- What is a python?
Pythons are reptiles found in Africa, Asia, and Australia.
Some of the world’s largest snakes are pythons. They can grow up to 9meters (30 feet) long. Most pythons can swim and climb well.
A python kills its prey by squeezing it until it stops breathing. Then, the python swallows the animal whole.Pythons are good climbers.
- August 23, 2007
- What is a koala?
Koalas are mammals found in Australia.
Koalas spend most of their lives in trees. They even sleep in trees. They have sharp claws and rough pads on their feet. The pads help them hold on to the branches.
Koalas are 60-80 centimeters (24-35 inches) long. They have round, wide faces and large furry ears. The fur [...]
- August 23, 2007
- What is a hedgehog?
Hedgehogs are mammals found in Europe, Africa, Asia, and New Zealand.
A hedgehog sniffs around in bushes for small animals to eat. As it hunts, it grunts like a pig. It has a prickly coat. When a hedgehog is attacked it curls up into a prickly ball. This makes it hard for enemies to bite it [...]
- August 23, 2007
- What is a fox?
Foxes are mammals found in most parts of the world.
Foxes are good hunters. They hunt small animals like rabbits and birds. Foxes also eat many other forest animals. They eat beetles, worms, frogs, and mice.
Foxes have red-brown fur, a long bushy tail, pointy black ears and very good hearing and a narrow muzzle or snout.
Foxes [...]
- August 22, 2007
- What is a subprime mortgage?
Subprime mortgages are mortgage loans granted to people with little or no credit, bad credit, or with little or no down payment. There has been a surge in the number of foreclosures, and holders of these types of loans represent the lion’s share of the people in trouble now. Property values have fallen in many [...]
- August 22, 2007
- What is a great horned owl?
Great horned owls are bird found in North, Central, and South America.
The great horned owl has small ears, but can hear very well. It can also see very well, even on the darkest night.
An owl hunts for food at night from high in the air. When it hears a mouse move or squeak, the owl [...]
- August 19, 2007
- What is an earthworm?
Earthworms are invertebrates found in most parts of the world. They live on the forest floor and underground.
Earthworms spend most of their lives underground. They come out of the ground at night or in wet weather. They eat mostly dead leaves.
Earthworms are soft and can bend easily. This helps them move through dirt and around [...]
- August 19, 2007
- What is a deer?
Deer are mammals found in most parts of the world. Deer are fast yet quiet animals. They can run up to 48 kilometers (30 miles) an hour. They eat plants.
Deer are not easy for enemies to see. The brown and white of a deer’s coat helps it hide in the forest.Two young deer with their [...]
- August 19, 2007
- What is a bumblebee?
Bumblebees are insects found in most parts of the world. Bumblebees can grow to 2.5 centimeters (1 inch) long. They are black and orange, or black and yellow. They have two pairs of wings. Female bees have stingers. These help the bees protect themselves from enemies.
Bumblebees feed on nectar from flowers.
- August 19, 2007
- What is a bobcat?
Bobcats are mammals found in North America. Bobcats usually live alone. Their tan fur is spotted with black. These colors help them blend in with the ground and rocks. They hunt rabbits, mice, and squirrels at night. They creep along the ground while hunting. They can leap 3 meters (9.8 feet) to catch an animal.
A [...]
- August 17, 2007
- What is a black bear?
Black bears are mammals found in North America and Asia.
Black bears eat fish, nuts, berries, and honey. They use their front paws or their large jaws to grab their food. Black bears can swim, and this helps them catch fish.
Black bears spend much of the winter sleeping. They make dens in trees, in caves, or [...]
- August 17, 2007
- What is an ant?
Ants are insects found in most parts of the world.
Ants live all over the forest. They live in large groups. Many types of ants live underground. They make tunnels in soil. Some ants build nests above the ground suing soil and twigs. Other ants make nests in trees.
Some ants eat only leaves and seeds. [...]
- August 15, 2007
- What is a beaver?
Beavers are mammals found in North America, Europe, and Asia.
Beavers live in rivers and streams near the forest floor.Beavers eat bark, twigs, leaves and roots. They have wide flat tails. These tails help beavers to steer as they swim. Beavers use their split claws to comb their own fur. They also use their claws [...]
- August 15, 2007
- What keeps your heart beating?
Your heart starts to beat before you are born. It keeps on beating your entire life. What keeps this amazing organ going at such a steady pace?
Your heart is a muscle. But it’s a different kind of muscle than the one in your arm or your leg. A healthy heart muscle doesn’t get tired and [...]
- August 13, 2007
- What causes hiccups?
You are sitting quietly in class. Suddenly a loud “hic” bursts from your mouth. You hold your breath but the hiccups keep coming.
They are a common problem, but scientists really don’t know why we get the hiccups. Sometimes they start when we eat too much or drink too fast. Other times they seem to appear [...]
- August 13, 2007
- Why do people sweat?
You are skateboarding down the path. It is a hot summer day. It looks like you have been swimming. But you haven’t. You are just soaking wet with sweat!
You have about two million sweat glands all over you body. These sweat glands have tiny tubes that bring sweat from within you skin to the surface [...]
- August 12, 2007
- What causes motion sickness?
The roller coaster is making lots of turns. You stomach starts to roll. Uh-oh, you think you’re going to …
Just what is it about a moving vehicle that sometimes makes you feel so sick? You may be surprised to learn that the problem doesn’t start in your stomach. It’s in your head!
The trouble begins when [...]
- August 12, 2007
- Why do people blink?
Go ahead. Stare eye-to-eye with a friend. Try not to blink. You may win the contest, but it’s only a matter of time before you blink again!
Blinking spreads tears over your eyes. Tears protect your eyes and keep them from drying out. When you are calm, you may blink about 20 times a minute. If [...]
- August 12, 2007
- Why don’t haircuts hurt?
Snip, snip – the scissors fly around your head. Your hair grows from living cells. But the hair that’s cut is not alive. What is the story here?
Each hair on your head grows form a root that is under your skin. The root produces hair cells in a special tube called a follicle. When new [...]
- August 12, 2007
- Why do baby teeth fall out?
It takes a few years for the baby teeth to grow in. Then it takes a few years for them to fall out. What is the deal with these short-term teeth?
You probably got your first baby tooth when you were around six month old. And all 20 of your primary teeth, or baby teeth, were [...]
- August 12, 2007
- Why do people yawn?
Scientists know that the average yawn lasts six seconds. They also know that people yawn all the time – in the morning, at bedtime, even while they are exercising. The only thing that scientists still don’t know is why we yawn in the first place.
There have been many ideas. We usually yawn more when we [...]
- August 12, 2007
- How do people taste food?
One lick of your tongue and you know if it’s yucky or good. How does this little muscle in your mouth give you so much information?
The surface of your tongue is covered with thousands of tiny bumps. Near the base of these bumps are special cells called taste buds. Taste buds can detect four basic [...]
